‘Desecrating’ 9/11?

‘DESECRATING’ 9/11?…. As the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, the White House has designated Sept. 11, 2009 as a “National Day of Service.” It seems like an appropriate way to honor the tragedy.

But not to everyone. Matthew Vadum has a piece in the far-right American Spectator, arguing that President Obama’s service proclamation is part of a plan to “desecrate” 9/11. In all sincerity, this is not a parody:

The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.

This effort to reshape the American psyche has nothing to do with healing the nation and everything to do with easing the nation along in the ongoing radical transformation of America that President Obama promised during last year’s election campaign. The president signed into law a measure in April that designated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, but it’s not likely many lawmakers thought this meant that day was going to be turned into a celebration of ethanol, carbon emission controls, and radical community organizing. […]

The plan is to turn a “day of fear” that helps Republicans into a day of activism called the National Day of Service that helps the left. In other words, nihilistic liberals are planning to drain 9/11 of all meaning.

“They think it needs to be taken back from the right,” said the source. “They’re taking that day and they’re breaking it because it gives Republicans an advantage. To them, that day is a fearful day.” […]

With the help of the Obama administration, the coalition is launching a public relations campaign under the radar of the mainstream media — which remains almost uniformly terrified of criticizing the nation’s first black president — to try to change 9/11 from a day of reflection and remembrance to a day of activism, food banks, and community gardens.

It’s hard to know where to start with something like this. There’s crazy, and then there’s this crazy.

But let’s just note a few relevant details. First, George W. Bush called for community volunteer work on the anniversary of 9/11, and the right didn’t find it controversial. Second, victims’ families have recommended making 9/11 a national day of service for years. Third, Alex Koppelman explained, “Check out the official Web site set up for the day: They’re asking people to come up with their own events. So if you don’t want to help out at anti-American places like food banks and community gardens, you can organize your own event.”

What’s more, while the Vadum piece is obviously bizarre, it’s also worth remembering that these disturbed ideas were quickly embraced by other far-right bloggers, including Michelle Malkin and another site that argued the president is calling for “mandatory civilian service” as part of Obama’s drive to build “his civilian army.”